Rising Star
Yesterday the Fashion Group International Rising Star Awards took place, held at Cipriani 42nd Street. Frankly, I was a little amazed that we were invited to be there. To be nominated was crazy, a finalist insane, then…..
Walking into the venue we passed Prabal Gurung, Joseph AltuzarraFrederic Fekkai, Beth Buccini, Francisco Costa, Fern Mallis… ?!@# All the finalists were given boutonnieres, each one completely different, then in front of the cameras for photos. On to enjoy the reception, which included Bellinis and fried zucchini–yum and yum. Two of my favorite things… The Bellinis were certainly in order as I’m sure everyone had some nerves to quell. I did at least. Boy did I take that Bellini down! We schmoozed a bit, then off to be seated for the luncheon.,
We ate some lunch (mostly drank wine) and listened to remarks first by Margaret Hayes, then keynote speaker Nina Garcia, who told us to “be yourself, be daring, be bold and make fashion history”.
“How will you leave your mark? What is your legend?” she said. “You have to know as an artist who you are and what you stand for. Don’t try to be the next Marc Jacobs. Be yourself. If they had tried to be who came before them, you wouldn’t know their names right now. Be bold. Break some rules. Challenge and astonish us.”
On to the awards. Already? Here we go…
It was done alphabetically, so Accessories was first. The presenter for the category was Cindy Weber-Cleary, fashion director of InStyle.
“Would the finalists please stand up?”
“Oh my God, already??” I felt like someone was pushing me off a gangplank and I wasn’t ready to get in.
As she read off the names of the finalists, images of each collection were projected on a huge screen behind the stage. What a rush to see my designs 10 feet tall!
“And the winner is…”
….
“Amanda Pearl Brotman for Amanda Pearl!”
“Holy crap. We won.” Massive applause and screams (from our table, at least…ha!).
A wave of shock made its way over my body. My heart must have been beating a million times a minute. Paralyzed. Margaret signaled me to get up there, so I did… the music thumping. Cindy handed me my pretty award and stepped back away from the podium.
“Am I supposed to say something?” I whispered to her?
“Yes,” she replied.
Great. Antoine told me to prepare something, in the off chance that I actually won. A) I didn’t think I’d win. B) I didn’t know that we’d have to go up on stage to say something. Naturally I didn’t prepare a thing to say. Public speaking is right up there with sitting in a tub of poisonous spiders, on my list of things I don’t want to do. Ever. But there I was, award in hand, in front of a room full of fashion heavyweights. Oh yeah, another thing I really don’t like? Microphones.
This is basically what the room looked like to me.
I don’t remember exactly what I said, but I know it wasn’t exactly what I would have said had I prepared something. I thanked FGI (truly an honor to even have them know my name), my parents who had come from Seattle for the event (who have been amazing teachers, parents and coaches), my husband Antoine (who is the reason I’m doing what I’m doing, and who has been so kind as to agree to share me with this business), and Lisa Brethauer (without whom I wouldn’t even make it to Tuesday).
Me with Lisa, Dad, me, Mom & Husband
Whisked off the stage for a moment of blinding by flashbulb with Cindy, then the walk around back to my seat. Woah.
Me with the Accessories Award presenter Cindy Weber-Cleary
The rest of the ceremony was also a bit of a blur as I sat in a state of shock, but still excited for all of the other finalists and awardees. What amazing company, not only to be in the same room as these people, but in the same competition and categories. What a day!
The winners!
Nina Garcia, Frederic Fekkai, Francisco Costa
